SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday attended the valedictory function of a women’s vocational training programme at Army Goodwill School in Balapur, Shopian, where he felicitated women who completed their skill development courses across six training centres in South Kashmir.
According to officials, a total of 1,481 women were trained through the initiative, including 125 trainees from the recently concluded course. The training was conducted at Army Goodwill School Shopian and five other Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Enhancement Centres in Pulwama, Kulgam, Budgam, Anantnag, and Pampore.
The programme was jointly organised by the Indian Army and the Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Vikas evam Sewa Sansthan, in collaboration with Project Toha Social.
Addressing the gathering, LG Sinha appreciated the contribution of the Indian Army and civil society organisations in facilitating skill-based training. He paid tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar, calling him a pioneer of women’s rights and social justice in India.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women’s empowerment in Jammu and Kashmir has become a people’s movement,” the LG said. “Empowering women remains a top priority of the administration, and it is essential to ensure they are not only recipients of welfare schemes but also key stakeholders in J&K’s development.”
The LG called for annual follow-up assessments of trainees to monitor business outcomes and recommended a targeted approach to close the gender gap in entrepreneurship, especially in rural areas.
He also highlighted the broader goal of addressing issues such as drug addiction and terrorism through women-led development. “Our women-centric schemes are supporting economic resilience in rural areas,” he said.
LG Sinha further commended the Indian Army’s outreach initiatives. “The Army is not only guarding the borders but also working towards social transformation,” he said.
The event was attended by GOC 15 Corps Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, GOC Victor Force Maj Gen Dhananjay Joshi, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, DIG South Kashmir Javid Iqbal Matoo, Deputy Commissioner Shopian Shishir Gupta, senior officers from civil and police administration, members of the organising institutions, and a large number of local youth.
